What is a homestudy?
The homestudy typically consists of orientation and training classes; a written personal history of each adult in the family; and personal interviews conducted in the family home, and sometimes in the adoption agency, by a social worker assigned for that purpose.
Orientation:
The orientation helps you to understand the homestudy process in your specific state and acquaints you with adoption resources in your community.
Training Classes:
These are often the same classes that prepare foster parents for parenting children who have special needs. They help you begin to learn how to deal with the issues that surround special needs adoption; gain understanding of the grief, abandonment, and betrayal a child often feels; and learn how to cope with a child's needs. You learn why advocacy is crucial, and more importantly, how to do it.
Personal History:
A comprehensive history is developed on each adult living in the family home. Questions are asked about family of origin, education, experience with children, feelings about education for ones own children, employment status, and future plans. Other questions may address daily routines, friends, neighborhood and community, and religious preference.
Married couples are asked questions about how they met, how long they have been married, the strengths and weaknesses of their relationship, how decisions are made, etc. Single persons are asked questions about their support systems; significant others; availability of child care resources; and so forth.
Children in the home are also interviewed (depending on their age and level of understanding) regarding their feelings about an addition to their family and what adoption means to them.
The social worker's job is to assess the family's capacity to parent a child with special needs and to help the family identify what special needs they are able to handle. The written assessment done by the social worker is a crucial element of the final homestudy document.
Health Report:
A medical history, including a physical exam within the past 12 months are required for all prospective parents. TB tests are required for every member of the household. A medical condition that is under control (e.g., high blood pressure, diabetes) usually does not prevent being approved to adopt. However, a serious health problem that affects life expectancy might.
Criminal Background Check:
All adults in the household complete forms that are sent to a state police check center and child protective services. Some states or counties require local police clearances, as well as FBI fingerprint checks. Folks who have been convicted of harming children cannot adopt.
Financial Statement:
You will be asked to list the amount of your family's income. Some states may require a copy of an income tax form, a pay check stub, or a W-2 form. You do not have to be wealthy or to own your own home to adopt. Even if you receive some type of assistance, you are eligible to adopt as long as you have adequate resources to provide for your family. Financial assistance in the form of subsidies are often available when adopting children with special needs.
Personal References:
You will be asked for names, addresses and phone numbers of three or four individuals who can attest to your experience with children, the stability of your marriage and/or household, and your emotional maturity.